A Journal of the Swedish Embassy in the Years 1653 and 1654, Vol II.
John Locke · en
From hence he came in sight of divers small islands upon the Dutch coast,
which lie in rank from the mouth of the Elbe unto the Texel. In the
evening they spied a sail to the leeward of them, but so far off that
Whitelocke held it not fit, being almost dark, to go so far as he must do
out of his way to inquire after her, and she seemed, at that distance, to
stand for the course of England.
_June 27, 1654._
[SN: At sea.]
The last night, the wind, having chopped about, had much hindered
Whitelocke's course, and made him uncertain where they were, yet he went
on labouring in the main; but the seamen guessed, by the ship's making
way and holding it (though sometimes forward and sometimes backward),
that this morning by eight o'clock they had gained thirty leagues from
Heligoland, from which to Orfordness they reckon eighty leagues, and the
"Fly" to be midway. The ship, which they saw last night, coming near them
this morning, they found to be of Amsterdam, coming from the Sound
homewards: she struck her sails to Whitelocke, and so passed on her
course.
About noon Whitelocke came over-against the Fly, and saw the tower there,
about five or six leagues from him. The wind lessened, and the sea did
not go so high as before; he went on his course about four or five
leagues in a watch. About seven or eight Holland ships made their course
by them, as was supposed, towards the Sound, which now they did without
fear or danger, the peace between the two Commonwealths being confirmed.
Whitelocke's fresh provisions beginning to fail, and his biscuit lessened
by affording part of it to the 'Elizabeth,' which wanted, he was enforced
to order that there should be but one meal a day, to make his provisions
hold out.
The most part of the afternoon they were taken with a calm, till about
seven o'clock in the evening, when the wind came fresh again to the east
and towards the north, and then would again change; and sometimes they
kept their course, and sometimes they were driven back again. The wind
was high and variable, and they toiled to and again, uncertain where they
were. Divers took the opportunity to recreate themselves by fishing, and
the mackerel and other fish they took gave a little supply to their want
of victual. About nine o'clock in the evening they lost the 'Elizabeth,'
leaving her behind about three leagues; she used to keep a distance from
Whitelocke's ship, and under the wind of her, since they began their
voyage; and, as a stranger, would not keep company with Whitelocke, being
discontented because he went not in that frigate.
_June 28, 1654._
[SN: Whitelocke's great deliverance.]